Invader question

[buzzingfrets]

This vid also explains how such questions depend on the guitar used and involve multiple factors - including the inconsistency of magnets, which was a part of their mojo when RC bars were used.

That's why I stay open minded when I swap magnets: sometimes I just try a bunch of bars and stop when the pickup sounds to my liking, regardless of the alloy used and of the Gauss level that I've measured.

All that being said, I'm not sure that A2 will make an Invader less mid-centric. It might flatten its response and make it less focused, yes, because of the weaker magnetic field. But it should also increase its inductance and shift accordingly its resonance toward a lower frequency, making it potentially darker.

In such a situation, I wouldn't hesitate to experiment with the DiMarzio airing recipe evoked in this video. Airing weakens the magnetism even more and might flatten the response as wanted...

Thanks. I'm going to try an A5 in the center position.

 

[Seashore]

If you want more high end, you can also try the "hex screw mod" - replace one or both sets of pole screws with carbon steel hex head set screws. Thread size is #10-32. I don't know if it would get you any closer to what you want, but I found it to be tighter and brighter when I tried it.

 

[buzzingfrets]

If you want more high end, you can also try the "hex screw mod" - replace one or both sets of pole screws with carbon steel hex head set screws. Thread size is #10-32. I don't know if it would get you any closer to what you want, but I found it to be tighter and brighter when I tried it.

That sounds good. Do you know where I could purchase carbon steel hex head set screws?

 

[Seashore]

That sounds good. Do you know where I could purchase carbon steel hex head set screws?

I bought mine at a local logging equipment shop, but you can definitely find them online. They're not a guitar-specific part. Just make sure they're "alloy" or "carbon". Don't get stainless. 5/8" length is where I would start.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I found the " softer " grade of alloy hex screws sound better than the tougher grade ones.. like smoother fatter and more musical. Same w/ the invader style "mushroom" hex screws..

When I made covers for a set of second hand invaders I'd bought that were aesthetically in bad shape, I replaced the black Mushroom poles with more raw-looking alloy ones from the hardware store (softer grade ) and they sounded much better than the higher grade ones I'd also bought to try, which were thin and harsh in comparison..

That's ^^ the "Warbucker" ...there was also a "Bloodbucker" I made which I won't post here cuz my post will get deleted :lmao:

 

[buzzingfrets]

I found the " softer " grade of alloy hex screws sound better than the tougher grade ones.. like smoother fatter and more musical. Same w/ the invader style "mushroom" hex screws..

When I made covers for a set of second hand invaders I'd bought that were aesthetically in bad shape, I replaced the black Mushroom poles with more raw-looking alloy ones from the hardware store (softer grade ) and they sounded much better than the higher grade ones I'd also bought to try, which were thin and harsh in comparison..

That's ^^ the "Warbucker" ...there was also a "Bloodbucker" I made which I won't post here cuz my post will get deleted :lmao:

Very nice. Can you buy the hex screws at any hardware store?

 

[Edgecrusher]

I'm trying to get the modern Invader to sound similar to my late 80's invader. The modern invader is very midrange and doesn't have as much treble. This guy explains how they are not the same. Later in the video he recommended switching out the magnets. https://www.youtube.com/live/W5dlSLpRu1Q?si=MhLAKz8Cun6jA2sg&t=1847

Sorry mate but most of what he said either doesnt apply to the invader or is completely BS. Out of all the pickups that have been effected by changes in production the Invader is one of the least. Its always had ceramic mags the bobbin material differences are inconsequential, The only argument that might be made and it would be a very slight tonal difference is that the hex screws seem to be slightly different. The fact that they are CNC wound doesnt effect it either, Humbuckers have never been hand guided anyways. The bobbin is loaded onto a spindle and spun. Dude is out of his depth. Now you might be experiencing normal differences due to production tolerances but I'm more inclined to think something is either wrong or its your guitar. I say this because I have 3 Invaders in guitars and had them in 3 others. The best example I can give is one Invader I had in a Hamer Californian, that sounded pretty even and aggressive. When I sold that guitar I moved the pickup to an Jackson soloist, The exact same pickup became stuffy and super low mid heavy. I think you are pumping in a dry well in trying to swap mags to make the new invader sound like the old one. If you want to try something that might actually be meaningful swap the pickups from guitar to guitar then compare them again and better record them, our ears are pretty bad at hearing tonal differences across sessions. This will tell you what the actual differences between the 2 pickups are outside of the sound of the guitars. Good luck.